Bknham. — Oligochaeta from Kermadec Islands. 



i t 



glandular cells radiating from the narrow sperm-duct which traverses it 

 in an eccentric course, for in sections, both longitudinal and transverse, 

 it is seen to lie nearer the mesial than 

 the lateral, nearer the ventral than 

 the dorsal surface. At its anterior 

 free end the gland carries a plate of 

 low ciliated cells, which surrounds 

 the entrance to the duct — the true 

 " funnel." This plate has only a 

 slight elevation above the gland-cells. 

 After leaving the funnel the sperm- 

 duct passes through the septum as 

 a narrow tube which is fairly convo- 

 luted before it enters and traverses 

 the glandular " prostate." The pro- 

 state, or " atrium " as it is usually 

 termed, is a hemispherical mass of 

 gland-cells surrounded by a thin sheath 

 of muscle, and resembles the organ 

 figured by Eisen for several of the 

 American species. The male pore, 

 situated in segment xii, in line with the ventral chaetae, which, of course, 

 are absent in this segment, lies in a slight depression of the surface, 

 surrounded by a distinct folded lip, as seen in the entire worm. 



Fig. 3. — F. bollonsi. Longitudinal sec- 

 tion through the sperm -funnel. 

 a, ciliated cells ; b, glandular (pro- 

 state) cells ; b', the same cut 

 transversely and obliquely ; c, por 

 tion of the sperm-duct traver.-ini; 

 the glandular region ; c', the same 

 outside. 



Fig. 4. — F. bollonsi. Diagrammatic reconstruction oi the reproductive 

 organs in side view. The extent of the clitellum is indicated by 

 the thicker body-wall dorsally ; the segments are numbered. 

 a, sperm-sac ; b, testis ; c, funnel of the sperm-duct ; d, ovary ; 

 e, atrium and male pore ; /, ovum in ovisac ; g, nephridium. 



This is but a single sperm-sac, which occupies segment x, and com- 

 municates with segment xi, itself filled with developing spermatozoa. 

 There is no posterior sac. 



The egg-sac contains a large ovum, lying in segments xii, xiii, pushing 

 the septum backwards so that it rests against the hinder end of xiii. Other 

 eggs of less size lie free in xii, and the ovary has the usual position on the 

 anterior septum of this segment. 



The spermatheca is a nearly spherical but somewhat pyriform sac, 

 which communicates with the oesophagus at the hinder end of segment v 

 by a narrow duct. The wall of the " ampulla " is differentiated by the 

 character of its epithelium into two moieties — that moiety nearer the 

 oesophagus is lined by gland-cells which are of small height over about half 

 the circumference of the ampulla, as seen in longitudinal section ; but at 

 about the equator the cells rather suddenly increase in height, forming a 

 ring-shaped diaphragm projecting into the cavity. Below this, nearer 



